A bulge in the belly button or surrounding region (often most visible when coughing or straining) Pain at the hernia site. Constipation. Sharp abdominal pain and vomiting can mean the hernia is strangulated (note: if you are experiencing these symptoms please seek immediate medical attention as surgery may be required) ...
Talk with your doctor if you have a bulge near your navel. Seek emergency care if the bulge becomes painful or tender. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can help prevent complications.
Even if symptoms aren't severe, it's important to consult your doctor if you suspect an umbilical hernia. Seek medical attention immediately if you or your child are experiencing sharp pain, vomiting, constipation, discolored bulge or fever.
Symptoms of a strangulated umbilical hernia include: Abdominal pain and tenderness. Constipation. Fever.
sudden, severe pain. being sick. difficulty pooing or passing wind. the hernia becomes firm or tender, or cannot be pushed back in.
sudden pain that gets worse quickly. nausea and vomiting. fever. discoloration of your hernia bulge, especially red, purple or a general darkening.
Most patients with umbilical hernias first notice a belly button bulge or discomfort. Over time these hernias can get larger and more uncomfortable as the hernia sac gets pushed out from inside the abdomen. Like other hernias, an umbilical hernia in an adult will not go away or get better without treatment.
The risk of strangulation is important, estimated at up to 17% in umbilical hernias, up to three times higher than in femoral hernia [2]. To avoid these complications, a surgical treatment is required.
If hernia is left untreated, the size of protruding intestine might get bigger and become strangulated leading to the reduction of blood flow to surrounding tissue.
Most umbilical hernias heal on their own, but your doctor may recommend surgery if: Your child's hernia is very large. Hernias that measure 2 cm (0.8 in.) wide or larger are less likely to close on their own.
Most umbilical hernias are nothing to worry about, and go away without medical treatment by the time a child is 4–5 years old. Surgery is done only if: the hernia doesn't close by age 4 or 5. the hernia becomes incarcerated (can't be easily reduced)
Waiting to cure an umbilical hernia is not recommended except for a very small hernia. The abdominal muscles weaken with age. Therefore, the hernia also increases in size.
Your hernia may get worse, but it may not. Over time, hernias tend to get bigger as the muscle wall of the belly gets weaker and more tissue bulges through. But some small, painless hernias never need repair.
Umbilical hernias
It may get bigger when laughing, coughing, crying or going to the toilet and may shrink when relaxing or lying down. In many cases, the umbilical hernia goes back in and the muscles reseal by the time a child is 4 or 5 years old. Umbilical hernias can also develop in adults.
Umbilical hernias are common and come in many sizes ranging from small (less than 1 cm) to medium (1 cm to 3 cm) to large (greater than 3cm). Umbilical hernias can be asymptomatic or cause pain.
Whilst strangulation is a relatively rare complication of hernias it can occur with any type of hernia. Strangulation risk is probably greatest with femoral hernias.
Umbilical hernia repair is a fairly quick and simple operation. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes and it's usually possible to go home on the same day. However, some people stay in hospital overnight if they have other medical problems or if they live alone.
Is umbilical hernia repair major surgery? An umbilical hernia repair is a relatively routine surgery and takes about 20 to 30 minutes. It can be performed as an open surgery or a minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery.
Serious Symptoms
While most umbilical hernias are not a medical emergency, certain symptoms in babies and adults could mean a hernia is strangulated. This means the blood supply gets cut off to an organ that has pushed through the bellybutton or navel. Strangulated hernias may require emergency surgery to repair.
Many doctors recommend surgery because it prevents a rare but serious problem called strangulation. This occurs when a part of intestine or a piece of fatty tissue is trapped inside the hernia and is cut off from its blood supply.
Inguinal hernias are dangerous because they tend to keep getting larger and your intestine can get trapped inside the bulge and lose its blood supply. This is called a strangulated inguinal hernia, and surgery may be needed to correct the problem.
Injury to the area, for example, after trauma or certain types of surgery. Being born with an unusually large hiatus. Persistent and intense pressure on the surrounding muscles, such as while coughing, vomiting, straining during a bowel movement, exercising or lifting heavy objects.
A hernia can affect the intestines, which may cause a change in digestion and bowel movements. People may experience constipation or narrow, thin stools. In severe cases, constipation with a hernia may indicate intestinal obstruction.